- WP Rugby will advertise for a new CEO position in January 2021.
- Chairperson Ebrahim Rasool says the union has opted to make pivotol changes to achieve "excellence both on and off the field"
- WP coach John Dobson is confident that their star players will remain at the union.
WP Rugby has announced its intention to advertise for a new chief executive officer (CEO).
The union's chairperson Ebrahim Rasool, alongside head coach John Dobson, addressed reporters on Tuesday where they provided an update on a wide range of "pertinent matters".
In his opening address, Rasool said the union's top brass held "a very important and decisive whole day board meeting" on Saturday where open and honest discussions took place.
Rasool acknowledged that there were "enormous issues and perceptions facing Western Province Rugby".
It followed a tumultuous week in which the union first faced the news that Flyt Property Investment would be seeking "damages" over reneging on an agreement signed in June 2020, while American consortium MVM Holdings pulled out of negotiations around a prospective investment.
"We want to act in a way that shows that the Western Province Professional Rugby Board (WPPR) is indeed pursuing a path of excellence, not just on the rugby field, but also in the boardrooms and off the rugby field," Rasool said.
He continued: "And therefore, we have decided to make pivotal changes with the aim fundamentally of achieving excellence both on and off the field. And if it's off the field, then it must be underpinned by sound governance and good leadership of the company.
"In order to achieve on the field, a goal of a world class rugby team capable of at least being in the final of the Currie Cup next year and a major contender for international championships in the season after that.
"We are aware that player happiness and security must be linked with financial accountability and sustainability, transparent governance, continuous sustained engagement with all our stakeholders, as well as the goals of inclusive transformation.
"We know that our credibility rests on putting together and implementing a practical and credible action plan.
"So this commitment to rugby excellence is not simply based on guaranteeing player welfare and happiness and successfully negotiating new contracts - although we do so, we have paid and will continue paying our players and looking after their welfare, but we're now committed to creating an enabling environment for our players to keep performing with pride and determination towards the rugby goals we had set."
Among the proposed changes, Rasool said they would be looking for a new CEO. Since Paul Zacks resigned as CEO in January, WP president Zelt Marais has shared these duties.
"In terms of governance stability and integrity, the board has undertaken to even deepen the separation of powers and functions between the union and the company, and particularly the powers and functions of the company. This will include amongst others a search for and an appointment of a new and separate company CEO in January 2021.
"And I stress those words... separate company CEO... if we are to achieve the goal of separating between the obligations and jurisdictions of the shareholder and that of the board and the company.
"We have also immediately decided to co-opt Mr Solly Moeng, who is on the board, on the management committee in order for predominance of independent board members in the week by week decision making of the Western Province Professional Rugby Company.
"In short, we want a majority of independent members even at that operational level. There will also be increased focus on sustained and meaningful engagement with the players, the staff, the sponsors and the public. The board will ensure financial viability into the future by engaging positively with all stakeholders, thereby ensuring confidence and a share understanding of our common objectives," Rasool said.
Rasool, though, added that Marais would continue to form an integral role at the union.
"I think that implicit in our commitment to separate the functions of the company and the union, the shareholder and the board, Mr Marais remains a valuable director on the board.
"That experience and passion for rugby cannot be bought. [But] we need to ensure that he is not overburdened with responsibilities on both sides.
"The president will continue to conduct enormous responsibilities that go with that within the domains of the shareholder but he will remain a link between the board and the shareholder. We're looking forward to a redefined relationship with the president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union."
Dobson confident star players will stay
With the MVM deal falling through, there are rumours that the American investor is eager to now form an allegiance with the Sharks.
This has brought fears of a player exodus in the Cape, with a report last week even indicating that WP captain Siya Kolisi could head to Durban.
Dobson, however, said he was confident that they would retain their star players.
"We are enthused and excited by recent developments. We have had some tough times out there in the media, but as a playing group we know that we are blessed - due to the goodwill of shareholders and the board - with a world-class team. We have not been in the business of acquiring [players] from outside, but we want to retain [the talent we have].
"Under the chairman's guidance, we've engaged with every single player and all have indicated a desire to stay - and that's a great reflection on the union and franchise. This strategy of the board will give enormous confidence to the players to retain their futures here," Dobson said during a virtual media briefing.
The WP coach noted that the majority of their player group was contracted until the end of October 2021 and that they would go through the next steps of negotiations "sooner rather than later" in the hope of retaining the "same squad going into 2022".